Daily archives "June 23, 2013"

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks ****
USA/Director Alex Gibney/130 mins

“We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks” tells the story of Australian hacker Julian Assange’s website that was designed to expose classified information to the public.

Featuring one to one interviews with those involved in Wikileaks directly or otherwise, the documentary gives a detailed and unbiased account of the website’s lifespan.

While Assange initially appears to have good intentions, his practices become more corrupt over time and almost go full circle in terms of sharing and withholding information.

Other parties involved range from computer hackers to respected journalists. While some appear to have a genuine interest in exposing corrupt practices, others are clearly in it for personal gain. This is particularly apparent when hacker Adrian Lamo befriends an information source then turns him in.

The film is nicely structured and flows well. At 130 minutes it is slightly long but a lot of information is covered in that time and most of it is important to the story.

Overall, the documentary is enjoyable and informative. While it could have been shortened slightly, it is well written and answers all the audience’s questions.